Archive for July, 2011

Against its might, as individuals, we are helpless to this river. It’s a constant current, we must work quickly; build a stable foundation to cross.

2 persons may build a raft, but this will not withstand the rage of the river.

23 people could build a boat sturdy enough to cross, but they would

not have enough storage for food.

46 people can built a boat fit to carry food. 23 will be left behind.

69 people can create the boat that carries its entire people, food, water

and supplies across to the other side.

69, is the representation the ever outward spiraling yin and yang.

Imagine if 7 billion people could find a way to help one another. Food,

education, and clothes not a single person excluded.

We could explore other planets, solar systems,

reaching out to the galaxy.

This is a poem written by a young street-dependent client, Matthew Hudgins, and shared with you by permission. Matt has a 16-page draft of a children’s book he hopes to finishing editing, illustrate and publish one day soon. Enjoy!

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

— Romans 7:15-17

Earlier this month I was talking with a client who was expressing just this. It was such a humbling conversation for the both of us. I don’t know how many times that I have caught myself in doing the very things that I hate and I do not even understand why I continue to do them. And the things that I would like to be doing, I’m NOT doing! This was exactly how Paul was feeling when he wrote this, and he makes it so applicable for today. The client that I spoke with was so heavy burden in these thoughts and Paul wrote them thousands of years ago. This client and I continued to talk and our conversation grew more and more into a self-evaluation and looking to the scriptures. We began to talk about how it can be so hard to not only know the Truth, but also be living it out in our actions everyday.

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

— James 1:22

When our conversation ended it made me continue to think about the other street kids that may be feeling like this but also myself.Over these past few months God has opened my mind in so many ways. And the people that we serve have also taught me so much. I am so blessed to be apart of Street Youth Ministry!

On outreach, I saw something that has stuck with me for more than a week now. I watched a volunteer simply sit with a street-dependent client. The client was in bad shape, suffering from substance abuse, exposure to the heat, as well as having recently been mugged and beaten. The volunteer offered no assistance and no conversation. The volunteer just sat with the client, side by side, on the sidewalk in silence.

What strength it takes to not try to fix something! To simply enter compassionately into the space of someone hurting and be with them. To offer your presence as a gift. What wisdom to realize that the gift of yourself can be prized and even healing. What courage it takes to face that silence.

The volunteer wasn't asked to do this. He wasn't told it was an option–in fact, he was told that we shouldn't sit on the sidewalk because it's illegal to do so in downtown Austin. He wasn't told a case history of the client or how to do what he did safely. It was all natural for him.

The most surprising thing, is that this volunteer is a young boy! When do we stop being so naturally compassionate? When do we stop being willing to take risks to comfort another? When do we stop believing that we can help?

Lord, give us all the strength, wisdom, and courage to love others without reserve.